FIA cuts Renault teams' diffuser allowance

9 July 2011 – Meetings are continuing at Silverstone during third free practice on Saturday morning, with Renault having been told by Formula 1 governing body the FIA that they can no longer enjoy increased performance from their exhaust-blown diffuser.

Prior to Britain, all teams were told that they must limit advanced engine mapping – which allowed them to flow hot exhaust gases into their cars’ diffusers, even when off the throttle – to around 10 percent.

This was then increased to about 20 percent, with Renault – suppliers of Red Bull Racing, Lotus Renault GP and Team Lotus - then being allowed to move the figure up to 50 percent on Friday as it claimed the new ruling was hindering reliability.

On Saturday morning, FIA technical delegate Charlie Whiting appeared to change his decision of 24 hours earlier, claiming Renault must run at 10 percent. Rivals Mercedes, on the other hand (who power Mercedes GP, McLaren and Force India), are enjoying a greater percentage after explaining to the FIA earlier this week that their powerplants require a certain amount of off-throttle blowing in order to work correctly.

As today’s third practice session began, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner and Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey engaged in discussions with Whiting, later leaving the FIA motorhome and refusing to talk to reporters.

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